PITTSBURGH (AP)—As the Winter Classic got wetter and wetter, the NHL nearly experienced its first rain delay. The Washington Capitals weathered the conditions with a performance that proved they can handle a big-game setting, even one in the great outdoors.

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“I can’t imagine what football players (feel) playing like this,” Ovechkin said. “It’s unbelievable. It makes you want to do it all the time.”

A couple weeks ago when the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears had to play in an outdoor stadium in Minnesota, players complained left and right. "Someone's gonna get injured! Oh my God! How can they have us play on a frozen field?!"

You know, most youth who play football would about anything to play football professionally. Yet, they complain about having to play on a frozen field of all things (wah wah). Yet here are hockey players, who always play on a frozen "field" and they love the rain! I do not play hockey myself, but I live in the north and I can only imagine that rain would wreck havoc with the ice. Perhaps due to large hockey rinks being froze from underneath, the rain wouldn't have as much effect, but I am sure it'd still cause some rough ice and dangerous conditions. Yet, the hockey players love it.

I wish hockey would become more popular among whites in the nation. Of course, if it became larger, then I am sure demands for more DIEversity being added to it would occur.... Probably already has.

Listen, I live in Canada and follow hockey pretty religiously. I can tell you that the biggest difference between hockey players compared to basketball and football players is their dress attire to and from games.

In hockey, going all the way down to minor, kids have dress in a shirt and tie to and from the rink. A friend of mine is a hockey dad. His son plays at the highest level possible for his age group (he's only about 12). When they go to tournaments out of the city, kids are dressed up. In Junior Hockey (1 step below the NHL), players have to be in a team issued shirt and tie to and from the team bus. Compare that to basketball and football players.

See maybe NOW NBA players dress up for games, but this is a new thing. Let's remember that about 6 years ago the NBA had to institute a league rule for players dress code if they are on the sidelines.

How is it possible that kids in Canada are dressing properly while grown men who are pros and making millions cannot dress classy ?

One criticism about them though is that alcoholism is pretty widespread. Sometimes even drugs. I've heard a few examples of the latter but it's usually alcoholism. I think it's getting better. The NHLPA does a good job with this. Another big thing the PA do is prepare players for life after hockey.

One thing that is unheard of is gun crimes that is very common in the NFL/NBA. Never heard of such a thing in the NHL.

Biggest no-no in the NHL is giving the club/team a bad name. You will pay a heavy price if the organisation gets embarrassed.

I follow hockey religiously. (GO USA world juniors 2011).
I didn't catch the winter classic, been out all day. Gonna catch a rerun on NHL network tomorrow. The only real concern I would have about the ice on a day they had today is the warmer weather. That obviously makes the ice a bit softer, making it harder to cut. It's a unique tradition the NHL has created, and I hope Minnesota gets it next year.

As for dress code. It's pretty common among hockey players. Anyone that has played hockey learns respect for your teammates, and opponents, honor, hard work, courage, etc. Even at the lowest level of hockey, you are taught to look professional. The high school tournament here in MN brings out 20K size crowds. You're lucky if you can find a ticket. People want to see proud citizens and professional looking young athletes, not thugs.

Next time you are watching sports highlights, take notice about how black basketball players, football players talk to the media compared to white hockey players. You will find, hockey players will be brief, too the point, about team not self, with a respectful, positive and professional attitude.

On October 17, 2005, NBA commissioner David Stern instituted a mandatory dress code for all NBA players. Stern's edict stated that all players must dress in conservative attire while acting within the purview of their employment by an NBA franchise in public, or when acting as a representative of the league in public.
Stern banned what critics and supporters call "hip-hop culture"-related attire such as throwback jerseys, jeans, hats, t-shirts, large items of jewelry, and Timberland boots. Punishment for violations would include fines and possible suspensions for repeat violations.
Iverson, Tim Duncan, the Indiana Pacers' Stephen Jackson and the Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce countered that Stern's dress code would not change a person's character regardless of what type of clothing they wore, and that associating hip-hop styles of dress with violent crime, drugs, or a bad image is racist.

why is telling YOUR players to dress like a freaking adult considered racist ????

Wow, that's lovely. Whatever happened to the days of early basketball when it was still mostly white? Remember the short shorts? Now every player wears those 10lb baggy as can be shorts. They all look like retards. Even the whites in basketball have become wiggers for the most part.